​UKIP invites Grand Mufti of Egypt to extremism debate

One of the world’s leading Islamic leaders is to participate in a debate on religious extremism, organized by the controversial United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).

The Grand Mufti of
Egypt, who is to meet UKIP leader Nigel Farage, will participate
in a discussion on youth radicalization and religious extremism,
chaired by UKIP MEP Amjad Bashir.

Speaking to the Times, Bashir said the debate was important in
light of the number of young Muslims joining jihadist militia
groups in Syria, and that it would remind British Muslims of
“the teachings of their religion and developing strategies
for combating religious intolerance.”

The Grand Mufti, Shawqi Ibrahim Abdel-Karim, is Egypt’s leading
religious authority, and the first to be selected by Islamic
scholars rather than the head of state. While many revere him as
an Islamic leader, others have questioned UKIP’s decision to
invite him.

“The Grand Mufti of Egypt is well-qualified to drive a
counter-narrative to defuse the radicalization of young people,
but I wonder if his team have done their homework — I am not sure
if they have chosen the right platform to present on an issue of
such importance,” said the director of the London Faith
Forum, Mustafa Field.

The debate, which takes place on Friday, will see the Grand Mufti
speak alongside the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of
Clifton. Carey is a controversial figure, even in Christian
circles, especially after accusing moderate Muslims of being too
dismissive about suicide bombers.

Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Richard
Ottaway also said inviting the two men was an “odd
connection.”

“What the Grand Mufti and Nigel Farage have got in common
remains to be seen,” he said. “But I wish them well.”

Bashir, one of UKIP’s most prominent Muslims, said the debate
between the religious leaders would be “very healthy.”

“I want to have a debate as to why people who are born and
raised in our country are getting radicalized. This is a dilemma
of our time and we have to think beyond party politics,” he
added.

While UKIP defines itself as an anti-EU party, it has received a
significant amount of criticism by British media for alleged
racism and prejudice against the UK’s Muslim community.

Earlier this year, UKIP MEP Gerard Batten, the party’s
immigration spokesperson, suggested British Muslims be made to
sign a “charter” condemning religious violence.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has also formally called for the
government to remove the citizenship of British Muslims who have
traveled to Syria and Iraq to join jihadist militant groups.